It wasn’t until the 1975 release of “Jaws” that summer blockbusters existed as we understand them today. Produced for $12 million, “Jaws” spawned a cultural event in which buzz around the film prompted audiences to watch and rewatch the movie, propelling it to the top of the box office. The film made over $470 million playing in theaters around the world – a huge success for a film released at that time.
Since then, Hollywood studios have consistently made big investments on summer movies, hoping to strike gold with a blockbuster hit. Of course, no such investment is a sure thing, and there is always a chance of failure. In many cases, a poor opening weekend can spell disaster for films that commonly have production budgets of $100 million or more.
To identify the worst opening weekends for summer blockbusters, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed opening weekend domestic box office grosses as a percentage of production budgets for large summer films. It is not uncommon for a movie to earn its entire production budget, and more, in the opening weekend. Each film on this list, however, made less than 20% of its production budget during its opening weekend.
Click here to see the worst opening weekends for summer blockbusters.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
50. The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 19.3% ($14,892,923)
> Production budget: $77,233,701
> Total worldwide gross: $108,585,546
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 73%
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Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
49. Stuart Little 2 (2002)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 19.3% ($31,378,487)
> Production budget: $162,807,782
> Total worldwide gross: $225,217,432
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 41%
48. Speed Racer (2008)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 19.2% ($26,053,191)
> Production budget: $136,036,748
> Total worldwide gross: $105,875,658
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 59%
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
47. Poseidon (2006)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 18.8% ($36,406,187)
> Production budget: $193,711,111
> Total worldwide gross: $219,952,692
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 43%
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
46. Terminator: Genisys (2015)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 18.8% ($29,981,608)
> Production budget: $159,616,314
> Total worldwide gross: $453,270,126
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 53%
45. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 18.1% ($17,109,219)
> Production budget: $94,295,685
> Total worldwide gross: $210,446,548
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 55%
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44. The Smurfs 2 (2013)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 18.1% ($20,848,357)
> Production budget: $115,250,282
> Total worldwide gross: $365,183,640
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 56%
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
43. Turbo (2013)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 17.9% ($25,320,487)
> Production budget: $141,443,528
> Total worldwide gross: $300,590,105
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 65%
Source: Courtesy of Screen Gems
42. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 17.7% ($11,092,735)
> Production budget: $62,863,790
> Total worldwide gross: $79,591,391
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 58%
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Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
41. White House Down (2013)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 17.6% ($27,623,083)
> Production budget: $157,159,476
> Total worldwide gross: $215,246,024
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 62%
40. The Expendables 3 (2014)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 17.5% ($18,013,204)
> Production budget: $103,100,500
> Total worldwide gross: $215,955,728
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 49%
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39. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 17.2% ($31,645,358)
> Production budget: $183,518,890
> Total worldwide gross: $382,029,888
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 90%
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
38. Baby’s Day Out (1994)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 17.2% ($14,167,278)
> Production budget: $82,346,829
> Total worldwide gross: $27,308,802
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 51%
37. Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (2010)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 17.0% ($38,004,067)
> Production budget: $223,865,429
> Total worldwide gross: $352,134,272
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 58%
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
36. Stardust (2007)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 16.9% ($13,947,889)
> Production budget: $82,401,636
> Total worldwide gross: $161,297,959
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 86%
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Pictures
35. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 16.9% ($13,444,078)
> Production budget: $79,590,000
> Total worldwide gross: $107,138,598
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 56%
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
34. Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (2010)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 16.7% ($15,848,217)
> Production budget: $95,142,807
> Total worldwide gross: $128,700,148
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 38%
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
33. Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties (2006)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 16.5% ($11,977,400)
> Production budget: $72,641,667
> Total worldwide gross: $179,165,069
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 43%
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
32. Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 16.1% ($27,814,700)
> Production budget: $172,882,124
> Total worldwide gross: $282,146,048
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 46%
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Source: Courtesy of STX Entertainment
31. Free State of Jones (2016)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 15.4% ($7,841,730)
> Production budget: $50,847,684
> Total worldwide gross: $23,544,574
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 64%
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
30. Warcraft (2016)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 15.4% ($25,026,213)
> Production budget: $162,712,588
> Total worldwide gross: $440,468,725
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 70%
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
29. The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 14.8% ($15,930,282)
> Production budget: $107,722,276
> Total worldwide gross: $49,792,652
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 20%
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
28. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 14.4% ($13,693,401)
> Production budget: $95,142,807
> Total worldwide gross: $53,791,240
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 83%
27. The 13th Warrior (1999)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 14.4% ($26,324,754)
> Production budget: $183,130,252
> Total worldwide gross: $90,391,479
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 65%
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Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Pictures
26. The Island (2005)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 14.3% ($21,508,307)
> Production budget: $149,969,892
> Total worldwide gross: $203,732,740
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 63%
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
25. The BFG (2016)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 14.0% ($19,946,224)
> Production budget: $142,373,514
> Total worldwide gross: $156,723,512
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 57%
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
24. Battleship (2012)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 13.4% ($29,719,581)
> Production budget: $222,183,001
> Total worldwide gross: $324,470,344
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 54%
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
23. Stealth (2005)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 13.3% ($22,968,514)
> Production budget: $172,465,376
> Total worldwide gross: $95,501,760
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 39%
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
22. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 13.1% ($24,696,467)
> Production budget: $188,810,909
> Total worldwide gross: $117,327,140
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 48%
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
21. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 12.7% ($22,740,586)
> Production budget: $179,092,343
> Total worldwide gross: $243,998,005
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 53%
20. Ben-Hur (2016)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 12.3% ($11,902,527)
> Production budget: $96,610,599
> Total worldwide gross: $90,229,316
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 54%
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Studios
19. Two Brothers (2004)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 12.2% ($11,364,845)
> Production budget: $93,030,556
> Total worldwide gross: $80,338,028
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 75%
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
18. The Lone Ranger (2013)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 12.0% ($34,703,955)
> Production budget: $288,125,706
> Total worldwide gross: $272,411,974
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 51%
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
17. Imagine That (2009)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 11.9% ($7,461,522)
> Production budget: $62,572,796
> Total worldwide gross: $18,343,298
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 40%
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
16. Osmosis Jones (2001)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 11.8% ($11,410,519)
> Production budget: $96,472,727
> Total worldwide gross: $18,739,016
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 41%
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
15. R.I.P.D. (2013)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 11.1% ($15,078,090)
> Production budget: $136,204,879
> Total worldwide gross: $82,850,995
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 38%
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14. Meet Dave (2008)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 10.8% ($7,371,718)
> Production budget: $68,018,374
> Total worldwide gross: $57,417,491
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 35%
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
13. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 10.7% ($7,166,516)
> Production budget: $67,015,325
> Total worldwide gross: $40,724,026
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 44%
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
12. Gigli (2003)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 10.3% ($7,340,586)
> Production budget: $71,631,000
> Total worldwide gross: $9,452,642
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 13%
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
11. Around the World in 80 Days (2004)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 9.9% ($14,013,632)
> Production budget: $142,130,016
> Total worldwide gross: $93,035,930
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 34%
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
10. The Invasion (2007)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 9.6% ($9,052,526)
> Production budget: $94,173,298
> Total worldwide gross: $47,259,742
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 40%
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Source: Courtesy of STX Entertainment
9. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 9.5% ($17,007,624)
> Production budget: $180,000,000
> Total worldwide gross: $124,264,863
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 56%
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
8. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 8.8% ($15,371,270)
> Production budget: $175,000,000
> Total worldwide gross: $140,012,608
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 71%
Source: Courtesy of Miramax Films
7. The Great Raid (2005)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 7.8% ($5,851,575)
> Production budget: $74,984,946
> Total worldwide gross: $13,243,679
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 70%
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Studios
6. Thunderbirds (2004)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 7.2% ($5,117,843)
> Production budget: $71,065,008
> Total worldwide gross: $36,477,596
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 36%
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
5. Lucky You (2007)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 6.4% ($4,122,789)
> Production budget: $64,744,143
> Total worldwide gross: $7,677,277
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 28%
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Source: Courtesy of Clarius Entertainment
4. Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return (2014)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 5.7% ($4,123,711)
> Production budget: $72,170,350
> Total worldwide gross: $20,731,379
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 68%
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
3. The Last Legion (2007)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 5.3% ($4,177,410)
> Production budget: $78,870,137
> Total worldwide gross: $29,850,312
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 34%
2. The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 3.3% ($4,531,619)
> Production budget: $135,673,152
> Total worldwide gross: $9,626,003
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 17%
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
1. A Sound of Thunder (2005)
> Budget recouped in U.S. opening weekend: 1.6% ($1,590,056)
> Production budget: $99,979,928
> Total worldwide gross: $7,873,983
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 18%
Sequels to popular films are often big hits. The three films with the best opening weekends as a share of their production budgets are sequels: “Shrek 2,” “The Lost World: Jurassic Park,” and “Austin Powers in Goldmember.” Conversely, very few of the films with the worst opening weekends are sequels to box office successes, with “Terminator: Genisys,” “The Smurfs 2,” and “The Expendables 3” the notable exceptions.
Superhero movies are also absent from this list. These are some of the most popular films coming out of Hollywood today and appear to be safe bets for studios. Batman, Spider-Man, X-Men and Avengers movies are among those with the most successful openings.
While the films listed each earned less than one fifth of their production budget back during their opening weekends in the U.S., 22 of the films outearned their budgets in the worldwide market. “Terminator: Genisys” and “The Smurfs 2” did exceptionally well overseas, grossing $453 million and $365 million worldwide, respectively.
To determine the worst opening weekends for summer blockbusters, 24/7 Wall St. compared the opening weekend domestic gross to the production budget for 451 films. Both figures were adjusted for inflation. To be considered, a movie must have been released between the first friday in May and Labor day between 1982 and 2017. Each film must have also been considered a wide release – shown in at least 600 theaters for its opening weekend.
Each film’s production budget and worldwide gross figures came from film industry research service The Numbers. The share of audience members who liked the movie is the audience score from online review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
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